Why you should never buy life insurance for children
Never buy life insurance for children. Life insurance is a tool that can protect your entire family. There are two ways that this tool helps them already: 1. It protects you from an estate tax […]
9 ways to pay off your debt in 30 days
Paying off large debts usually requires a long-term game plan. But just a couple of easy steps can help you pay off your smaller debts in a short time frame. Want to buckle down and […]
Why you should stay in college, even if you’re a future CEO
Looking back on his college experience, Andrew Josuweit remains conflicted. Why pay to learn, he still wonders, when you could just as easily be paid to work. “College is where I met all of my […]
8 ways your products may have the sales-tax life cycle of a lemon
The lemon is a simple fruit. The sales-tax life cycle of a lemon, however, is not simple by any means. Depending on the state of the lemon, the item the lemon becomes, or the packaging […]
Can I get life insurance if I have a criminal record?
As if having a criminal record isn’t challenging enough, such a history can also cause complications when it comes to applying for life insurance. Depending on the nature of the conviction, and the time that […]
6 ways to increase your home’s efficiency & comfort this winter
Just as the smart home can be used to keep you cool in the summer, it can also be relied upon to keep you warm through the cold winter months. From smart thermostats and motorized […]
Now is the time to get these documents ready for tax season
Tax season 2019 won’t kick into high gear until February, as employers have until January 31 to send out 2018 W-2s. But you can do some prep work now to get ahead of the refund […]
What to look for when buying a used car
You probably already know the biggest advantage of a used car over new: Lower cost. The average used car price was $16,000 below the average new car price in the third quarter of 2018, according […]
Choosing mutual funds: 7 things you need to know
When it comes to investing, mutual funds are a basic building block. About 44% of U.S. households and 94 million individual investors own mutual funds, according to a 2017 study from the Investment Company Institute (ICI). And they […]
3 retail trends to watch in 2019
Small retailers are busy preparing for the holiday shopping season, but now’s also the time to reflect on the past year and to look ahead to the future. In 2018, small business owners experienced many […]
3 technologies small business owners should consider in 2019
Technology gives small business owners an edge, allowing them to use limited resources in smarter, more efficient ways. However, many on Main Street remain slow to adopt new technologies. An AT&T survey reveals that 75% of small […]
How to refinance your credit card debt fast & save huge
If you’re saddled with high-cost credit card debt it can feel like you are in a prison. That expensive old debt weighs down your credit rating so it’s hard to refinance at a lower rate. […]
7 financial things you can do in the time it takes to cook Christmas dinner
Cooking Christmas dinner for the family can be time-consuming and stressful. But sharing a meal at the end makes it worthwhile. Some financial tasks can take just as long, but completing them can also be […]
Adventure on a budget: Cheap travel abroad programs
Traveling abroad is a life-changing event. You might learn a new language, and you’ll definitely engage with a new culture. You’ll taste new foods, navigate a new city and meet a variety of new people. […]
10 questions to ask a financial advisor
If you’re considering hiring a financial advisor, you’re ahead of the game — almost half (45%) of adults ages 40 to 59 would rather make an appointment with a dentist than with a financial planner, according […]
Why you should consider buying a house that needs work
If you’re purchasing a house – whether it’s a primary home, move-up home or secondary home – and the house needs work, don’t shy away from that. Here’s what you might want to think about […]
Will a life insurance policy pay if only one or two payments have been made?
One of the best features of a life insurance policy is that it will pay benefits as soon as the policy is in effect. Some people wonder how an insurance company can pay out a […]
11 common mistakes homebuyers make
It’s not just first-time buyers who make mistakes when buying a new abode. It’s easy to overstretch financially or to overlook something you shouldn’t when you see a new home you’d love to own. From buying furniture […]
8 ways to pay off your mortgage faster
Nearly 90 percent of all homeowners have 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages, according to Freddie Mac. It makes sense why — a home is the single largest purchase most adults ever make in their lives. Spreading out […]
How to spend your FSA money before the end of the year
Flexible spending accounts allow workers to spend pre-tax dollars on out-of-pocket medical expenses. 76% of companies with 200 or more employees offer FSAs, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation. These accounts offer many […]
The holidays aren’t the only thing affecting your wallet — so does the winter solstice
Winter is coming. Friday, Dec. 21 marks the 2018 hibernal (winter) solstice, also known as the shortest day of the year. The good news? The days will (slowly) get longer from there. The bad news? […]
5 times refinancing your student loans is a bad idea
In many cases, the answer to this question is yes. Refinancing may bring down your interest rates if you qualify, saving you money on your student loans. Plus, it gives you the chance to choose new repayment […]
5 homeownership costs you should start saving for today
Homeownership is part of the American Dream. Unfortunately, that dream doesn’t come with an instruction manual. If it did, buying a house would be a very lengthy chapter. In fact, purchasing a home is just the beginning. […]
Winter weather tips for business travelers
For many small business owners, traveling a few times a year (or even as often as every week) is a necessity. Fortunately, you can deduct many of your business expenses on your taxes. Knowing which […]
Last-minute Christmas shopping tips & ideas
Christmas, if you celebrate, is right around the corner. Whether you have a tiny number of gifts yet to buy, or if you haven’t started yet, don’t add procrastination to your list of holiday stressors… last-minute Christmas […]
Should you give life insurance as a Christmas gift?
Nothing says “happy holidays” quite like life insurance. OK, maybe that’s a stretch, but getting your loved ones the financial protection they need is certainly a noble, if not festive, endeavor. If you want to […]
Homeownership is more common among single women than single men
In much of the United States, single women are outpacing single men when it comes to homeownership. This trend may be somewhat surprising given that the average American woman only makes 80% of what the […]
The most expensive collectibles ever sold at auction
Back in August, a record price of $48.4 million was paid for a collector car sold at public auction. The car was a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO and the sale was RM Sotheby’s in Monterey, […]
5 ways for small business owners to stay sane during the holiday rush
The holiday season is here. You’ve invested countless hours into planning and readying your business, and now it’s time to put it all in action. There’s no doubt about it — the holiday rush is […]
5 ways to reduce debt & increase your credit scores
We all know how paying your debts on time and correcting credit errors can improve your credit score. But you can also improve your credit score by reducing your debt. Credit scoring models consider credit utilization to be the […]